The Bainbridge High School Bearcats earned a hard-fought 3-1 victory Friday night in Nashville, Ga., against the home-standing Berrien County High School Rebels.

Berrien County quickly got the Bearcats’ attention when the Rebels scored the opening goal in the fifth minute.

The Bearcats responded almost immediately with a goal of their own in the sixth minute. Jay Castro followed a Bainbridge shot on goal, picked up the rebound, and scored into the net.

Luis Mejia gave Bainbridge (11-2-2) its first lead of the night in the 17th minute, scoring off an assist by Lenorris Flanders.
The game remained hotly contested until the 75th minute, when Mejia crushed the Rebels’ hopes with a well-aimed goal from about 30 yards away.

“Luis really came to play tonight,” Bainbridge coach Jamie Ard said. “He quite literally was the difference in the game. He is a quality player, and I am certainly glad to say that he plays for us, rather than against us.

“Keyanni Hention did a very good job playing keeper on the night in place of Dominic Douglas. Dominic leaves big shoes to fill when he is unable to play, but Keyanni did well tonight.”

Ard also praised the play of Flanders, who returned to the field after healing from an injury earlier this season.

“It was good to have Lenorris back in the line-up for us,” he said.

Bainbridge was scheduled to travel to play Brooks County on Tuesday. The Bearcats will return home Friday to host Berrien County at 7 p.m. at Centennial Field. That game is also “Senior Night” for the Bearcats.